Saudi Public Holidays & Working Week Explained

Understanding when Saudi Arabia works and when it rests is one of the first practical things new residents need to master. From the Sunday-to-Thursday working week to the cluster of days around Eid, the rhythm of daily life here follows patterns that can feel unfamiliar at first. In this سعودي ليفنج guide we break down the official working week, standard office hours, overtime rules, and the national public holidays you can plan around in 2026.

The Saudi working week

The official working week in Saudi Arabia runs from Sunday to Thursday. Friday and Saturday form the weekend for government bodies, most private companies, banks, and schools. This means your "weekend" arrives on Friday, with Friday being the main day of congregational prayer and family gatherings.

If you are relocating from a country with a Saturday–Sunday weekend, expect a short adjustment period — international business calls, school schedules, and even online shopping delivery windows all shift accordingly.

Standard working hours

Daily hours are typically eight hours, adding up to a standard working week. During Ramadan, working hours are commonly reduced to around six hours a day for many employees. Actual start and finish times vary by sector:

• Government offices: usually 7:30–14:30 or 8:00–15:00, Sunday to Thursday, with variations by ministry and region.
• Private-sector offices: commonly 9:00–18:00, or a split-shift pattern such as 9:00–13:00 and 16:00–20:00, Sunday to Thursday.
• Banks: generally follow the government-style morning-to-early-afternoon window and close on Fridays and Saturdays.

Because hours differ between employers, always confirm your exact schedule in your contract or with your HR department.

Overtime rules

Under the Labour Law, work beyond your normal daily hours or on official holidays is usually paid at an overtime rate of 150% of the basic hourly wage. There are annual limits on how much overtime can be worked. If overtime is a regular part of your role, ask your employer to explain how it is calculated and confirm the current caps set out in the labour regulations.

National public holidays in 2026

Saudi Arabia observes several full-day, country-wide public holidays. Government ministries, public schools, and most banks close on these days, while some retail and service businesses stay open — often with reduced or split hours. The main holidays in 2026 are:

• Founding Day — Sunday 22 February 2026.
• Eid al-Fitr — a cluster of days around Friday 20 March 2026; the typical official span for government and many large employers is 19–23 March 2026 (Thursday to Monday), with some variation by sector.
• Day of Arafat (Arafah Day) — Tuesday 26 May 2026.
• Eid al-Adha — main days around Wednesday 27 May 2026, with an official span commonly running 27–30 May 2026 (Wednesday to Saturday) for government and many employers.
• Saudi National Day — Wednesday 23 September 2026.

Saudi Flag Day (Wednesday 11 March 2026) appears in some calendars as a national observance, but it is not universally treated as a full paid public holiday across all sectors — check with your employer.

A note on Hijri dates

Holidays tied to the Islamic (Hijri) calendar — including Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Arafah Day, and Eid al-Adha — depend on official moon-sighting. That means the 2026 Gregorian dates above may shift by roughly one day from advance calendars. For Eid especially, official confirmation often comes only a day or two before the holiday begins, so keep travel plans flexible.

How to plan around the holidays

• Book travel early but stay flexible: Eid periods see heavy demand for flights and hotels; consider refundable options given the possibility of a one-day shift.
• Handle official errands in advance: government offices and banks close during national holidays, so complete any paperwork or transactions before the break.
• Confirm your employer's exact span: holiday lengths can differ between the public and private sectors, so verify your company's official dates.
• Expect reduced services: even businesses that stay open may run on shorter or split hours during Eid and National Day.

The working-week and holiday rules described here are set by Saudi labour and civil service regulations — no separate app or online process defines them. For the latest confirmed dates and any sector-specific arrangements, always check with your employer or the relevant official Saudi government portal.

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